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Database Of Physiological Parameters For Early Life Rats And Mice
Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are valuable tools for estimating internal measures of dose for application in research and risk assessment on potential effects of exposures to chemicals. A focus of these modeling efforts is to describe growing and aging individuals and the resulting changes in internal dose during these life stages. Modeling life stage requires age specific information for the model parameters describing physiology. These parameters include body weight, tissue volumes, blood flows, and inhalation rates among others.
Data has been compiled from the scientific literature into an electronic database to provide modelers with access to the information. The database currently contains information compiled on Sprague-Dawley, Wistar, and Fisher 344 rats and mice of any strain.
The processes used for literature searching, selection of studies, and entry of information into the electronic database for the Sprague-Dawley rat and mice are described in Gentry et al., 2004 (see citation below). The literature searching for Wistar and Fisher 344 rats was focused on filling data gaps and studies reporting information for multiple ages.
Using the Database
This database is intended to be a useful tool for biologically based modelers by providing access to age-specific parameter values and the scientific literature from which they were extracted. Modelers are encouraged to use the database as a starting point for researching age-specific parameter values needed in their models. Database entries were subjected to quality assurance procedures to limit entry errors. No scientific judgments were made concerning the quality of the methods used in the reported studies, so the users of the database are encouraged to make independent evaluations. Additional literature searching may identify other information useful for estimating model parameters, which may not be in the database. In select cases, original individual animal data was obtained from researchers who had published summarized information (e.g., Schoeffner et al. 1999) making the database a unique resource. Modelers or others who have data that would augment the existing database are encouraged to email the contact.
Download a Microsoft Access version of the database
(The above link is to a zip file containing the Access database file and all associated Microsoft Excel files. Save this zip file to your local hard drive, and unzip the contents into a folder of your choosing, making sure that the Access file and Excel files reside in the same folder)
Contact
Hugh A. Barton
US EPA
Office of Research and Development
National Center for Computational Toxicology
barton.hugh@epa.gov
References
Gentry PR, Haber LT, McDonald TB, Zhao Q, Covington T, Nance P, Clewell HJ III, Lipscomb JC, Barton HA. 2004. Data for physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling in neonatal animals: physiological parameters in mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. Journal of Children's Health 2(3-4):363-411.
Schoeffner DJ, Warren DA, Muralidara S, Bruckner JV, Simmons JE. 1999. Organ weights and fat volume in rats as a function of strain and age. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 56(7):449-62.